Charge notebook: 87ers waiting in Canton

Saturday

Nov 23, 2013 at 12:11 AM

While the Charge opened the season in Erie on Friday night, tonight’s opponent waited back in Canton. The Delaware 87ers make their franchise debut tonight at 7 at Memorial Civic Center in the home opener for the Charge.

By Josh WeirRepository sports writer

While the Charge opened the season in Erie on Friday night, tonight’s opponent waited back in Canton. The Delaware 87ers make their franchise debut tonight at 7 at Memorial Civic Center in the home opener for the Charge.

Two of the more intriguing Delaware players — Rodney Williams and Norvelle Pelle — are listed as inactive with injuries to begin the season. Big Ten basketball fans should remember Williams, a high-flying forward formerly of Minnesota. Pelle, a 6-foot-10, 207-pound center out of Iona, was the sixth overall pick of the D-League draft.

Get excited

Friday night was the head coaching debut of the Charge’s Steve Hetzel. The 33-year-old Hetzel is an even-keel guy who sports a seemingly constant poker face. But a slight smile appeared when asked if he felt some nerves before the game.

“As a coach, you’re always worried whether you prepared them well enough,” Hetzel said. “You’ve gone over everything in practice and you just hope everything translates to the game. I don’t think I’d be a coach if I didn’t worry.”

Hetzel’s wife, Anne, and son, Aden, made the trip to Erie from Michigan to watch. They’re staying in Michigan while Anne finishes her master’s degree at the University of Michigan.

Biggs surprise

A surprise on the Charge’s final roster was forward Tyrell Biggs being inactive to begin the season. Biggs, who started the Charge’s exhibition game in Fort Wayne last weekend, had meniscus surgery in September. The knee flared up as this week progressed.

“The doctor told him it was normal for someone that had surgery to feel some pain and be sore,” Hetzel said. “We got good results.”

Hetzel didn’t rule out Biggs being active for Saturday.

The other inactive player is veteran guard Robert Hite, who has battled a hamstring problem for almost two weeks now.

Feel-good story

Open tryout player Re’mon Nelson made Canton’s final cut. The 5-foot-9 Nelson is the shortest Charge player and the only one with no prior pro experience. The Canal Winchester native played his college ball at NCAA Division II South Carolina Aiken.

“That’s kind of the Rudy story for everybody,” Hetzel said. “Re’mon worked his way onto the team. He earned it.”

This and that

Erie center Jeremy Tyler was inactive Friday night because of a foot problem. The 6-10 Tyler has 63 games of NBA experience, mostly with Golden State. He has career averages of 16.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 17 D-League games. … Former NBA All-Star guard Allan Houston attended Friday night’s game. Houston is the assistant general manager of the New York Knicks — Erie’s NBA parent team.